First of all we need to find a better way of handling the whole process. The way it has been done in the years it's incredibly time consuming. If we had a better slimlined system I bet there would be no issues each year running the awards without the drama.

So either we find a way to make it work on the forum or we develop a parallel software (or use something already available) to handle the whole charade.

If you have any idea, please let me know.

Also, this is the third time this year we try to talk about DTA and the discussion always dropped at some point. I'm asking this one more time, If any of you is available at helping with this year's DTA please let me know. Think about it seriously, don't impulse-reply just to withdraw after a few days. If you are in, send me a PM and let me know what you'd be available to do.

If you are in, send me a PM and let me know what you'd be available to do.

I can idly speculate, if that’s helpful!

What you want is suggestions on a new system, right? But for what: moderating and posting the contest threads? Is that where the effort sink lies?

I’d compress the contest like this:

1. Combine the entrant gathering and first rounds of voting into one. So I’d have people nominate entries on a thread per award category, and ask for forum members to simply “second” the entries (post a quote with +1) they agree are worth going forward. That combines a poll with a rolling restart as new entrants emerge before deadline. Then we could count the “votes” for each, and choose an informed number of entrants to go to the final. Flexibility is good here.

2. The final round would then work like before, with the potential to act as the sponsorship prize raffle it has done for many years.

Come to think, stage 1 could also serve as the “okay everyone, which awards are we doing this year?” preparation stage. Consider the categories in a live contest between each other, so those with the most interest are better placed to run to the final. That means we could match the sponsors and wingnuts available, with the most lively categories.

I think this setup could even handle the creative chaos of the photography award, a troublesome fan favourite if there ever was one.

1. Combine the entrant gathering and first rounds of voting into one. So I’d have people nominate entries on a thread per award category, and ask for forum members to simply “second” the entries (post a quote with +1) they agree are worth going forward. That combines a poll with a rolling restart as new entrants emerge before deadline. Then we could count the “votes” for each, and choose an informed number of entrants to go to the final. Flexibility is good here.

so, as soon as someone/something is nominated you add it to the poll with 1 vote and people either vote for it or post new nomination. Is that what you mean? I kinda like it.

we could even don't have categories in that round, and form the categories later based on what we have.

I think we could do it all right here on DT without any formal infrastructure changes. Simply use straightforward regular threads in the initial round, and we count people’s votes based on them saying +1 in their posts. The only true poll needed is the final round for each award.

Why I like informal “post polls” is because they can keep running while people add new entries. Our own forum voting system resets every time anything is added. Let’s just work around it.

Besides, you see how many more people contribute (nominations and opinions) when the awards are already running. Going less formal / more flexible will better suit our actual users. The way to gauge interest is to run the awards!

True. But the action on thread should be low enough to tally fairly easily. We don’t need scientific rigour or even a live count. Just a deadline, really. People will get a feel for it by taking part.

If there is a better way to run polls, perhaps we could and should take that. But with the static “all contestants form a line at the start” style we’ve always used, the downsides are obvious. Instead of a manual count, we wind up with a protracted and unsatisfying organising pre-stage. That’s why the awards have become a drag, right?

I haven't been here long enough to even to know what DTA is (until reading the thread, that is) but I think having some external component - as simple as using youtube and imgur for publically shared entry uploads, cross promotion on Reddit and GH (if allowed/possible to work something out) - would be a good way to draw in new members.

Now would be a good time especially as interest in keyboards is starting to go semi-mainstream, at least within the gaming/computer enthusiast community.

I'm also willing to help promote to outside communities, like CountNoctua suggested, but I am not certain how to gather them all or how we want to present it. Perhaps I could make a submission thread and compile them all on the top post?

I'm also willing to help promote to outside communities, like CountNoctua suggested, but I am not certain how to gather them all or how we want to present it. Perhaps I could make a submission thread and compile them all on the top post?

I can do graphics for the categories if needed. Not a pro or anything, but I can probably put some serviceable ones together.

Also willing to help out with other stuff. Maybe make some new Deskthority merch designs and products and add to prize pool, if Deskthority staff/admin are okay with that (would ask for approval before finalizing, not going to just start selling t-shirts in Times Square ... but if you see an unlicensed sesame street character hawking DT shirts, stop by and say hi ). Would love to get ideas for this, and been meaning to do a custom deskpad, anyway.

When is this scheduled for? I might also have a board, keycaps, and/or other items to possibly add to prize pool at that point.